Rose plant--74-2179-18

ABSTRACT

A hybrid tea rose variety having an upright growth habit, large pink blooms darkening to red upon sunlight exposure, and little fragrance.

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseplant of the hybrid tea class which was originated by me by crossing thevariety Sunfire, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,510, with the varietySpellbinder, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,571.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose varietycombining the abundance of flowering of Sunfire with the photosensitivepigment characteristics of Spellbinder. This objective was substantiallyachieved along with other desirable improvements as evidenced by thefollowing unique combination of characteristics which are outstanding inthe new variety and which distinguish it from its parents as well asfrom all other varieties of which I am aware:

1. An upright hybrid tea habit of growth.

2. Large blooms of a pink color that darkens to a red upon exposure tosunlight.

3. Little or no fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atWasco, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor in terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where ordinary dictionary significance of color isindicated.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Sunfire, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,510.

Pollen parent.--Spellbinder, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,571.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrid.

Commercial.--Hybrid tea.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown at Irvine, Calif. in August.

Blooming habit: Continuous.

Bud:

Size.--11/4" when petals start to unfurl.

Form.--Blunt top, ovoid.

Color.--When sepals first divide, Red 47A after exposure to sunlight,Pink (RHS Red 47D) when first exposed; when half blown, upper side ofpetals Red 47D darkening to Red 47A; lower side of petals variesdepending on exposure from Red 47D, mostly near base, to Red 47A, mostlynear tips.

Sepals.--Color: Outer surface mostly Green 138B also having numerousstipitate glands; three appendaged sepals lightly appendaged; twounappendaged sepals hairy edged.

Receptacle.--Color: Green 138B with brown shading. Shape: Funnel, upperend sometimes constricted. Size: Large, long. Surface: Glandular.

Peduncle.--Length: Short. Surface: Glandular. Color: Bronzy. Strength:Stiff, erect.

Opening.--Petals fold outward gradually.

Bloom:

Size.--Large. Average open size 4".

Borne.--Singly.

Stems.--Long.

Form.--When first open, high center. Permanence: Retains its form; outeredge slightly curled.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions 35-40.

Color.--Center of flower: Upper side of petals upon first opening Pink(Red 47D) aging when exposed to daylight to Red 47A. Reverse side ofpetals mostly Red 47D aging in some parts of the petal to 47A. Base ofpetals very light yellow. General tonality from a distance blend of Red47A lightened in shaded areas of the petals to 47A.

Variegations.--Occasional green streaks of vegetative nature on outerpetals.

Discoloration.--Third day: More area of Red 47A, sometimes a littledarker.

Fragrance.--None.

Petals:

Texture.--Normal thickness.

Shape.--Nearly round.

Form.--Tips slightly recurved.

Arrangement.--Imbricated. Petaloids in center, few.

Persistence.--Drop off cleanly.

Lastingness.--On the plant, long. As cut flowers, long.

Reproductive parts:

Anthers.--Medium. Color: Yellow. Arrangement: Regular around styles.

Filaments.--Color: Reddish.

Pollen.--Lemon yellow.

Styles.--Color: Pink.

Stigmas.--Color: Yellow.

PLANT

Form: Bush.

Growth: Very vigorous, upright.

Foliage:

Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves.--Usually 5.

Size.--Large.

Quantity.--Normal.

Color.--New foliage: Brown to Red-Purple 59A. Old foliage: Green 133A.

Leaflets:

Shape.--Oval.

Texture.--Upper side, leathery.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serration.--Single, small.

Petiole.--Rachis: Color, reddish. Underside: Prickles.

Stipules.--Long.

Disease resistance.--Mildly susceptible to mildew under normal growingconditions at Irvine, Calif.

Wood:

New wood.--Color: Bronzy brown. Bark: Smooth.

Old wood.--Color: Green to brown. Bark: Smooth.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks from base, ordinary. On laterals from stalk,ordinary.

Form.--Long base, hooked downward.

Color when young.--Brown.

Position.--Irregular.

Small prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks, none. On laterals, none.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the hybrid tea class, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of its hybrid tea plant habit with non-fragrant blooms with photosensitive pigment changing from pink to red upon exposure to sunlight. 